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Madam Lash: Gretel Pinniger's scandalous life of sex, art and bondage
Gretel Pinniger, dominatrix, fetishist, artist, and courtesan to the rich and famous has been shocking and outraging Australia for decades.
Never shy of publicity, this introverted daughter of a handsome war hero from the Melbourne establishment once wanted to become a nun. Instead, she threw her leather-clad body into a world of sex, drugs and riotous parties. She danced with Elton John, catered to Clyde Packer's more creative sexual fantasies and was supported by a fabulously wealthy patron, who bequeathed her a generous allowance so long as his name was never disclosed by her.
Despite marrying and becoming a mother, there is nothing ordinary about the outlandish Gretel Pinniger. Join Sam Everingham as he takes you into the colourful reality of Australia's most misunderstood eccentric. This is a portrait as revealing, provocative and outrageous as Madam Lash herself.
Never shy of publicity, this introverted daughter of a handsome war hero from the Melbourne establishment once wanted to become a nun. Instead, she threw her leather-clad body into a world of sex, drugs and riotous parties. She danced with Elton John, catered to Clyde Packer's more creative sexual fantasies and was supported by a fabulously wealthy patron, who bequeathed her a generous allowance so long as his name was never disclosed by her.
Despite marrying and becoming a mother, there is nothing ordinary about the outlandish Gretel Pinniger. Join Sam Everingham as he takes you into the colourful reality of Australia's most misunderstood eccentric. This is a portrait as revealing, provocative and outrageous as Madam Lash herself.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 28, 2010
‘.. popular girls were less interesting people.’
Gretel Pinniger, known as Madame Lash to her clients, has shocked and thrilled Australian society for some 40 years. During her career, Ms Pinniger has made a name as an artist, a fashion designer and as a dominatrix. Ms Pinniger has also stood for a seat in the Australian Senate.
But who is Gretel Pinniger, and how much of Ms Pinniger is represented by Madame Lash? And which of her multiple legacies would she most wish to be remembered for? I read this book to try to get some sense of the woman behind the legend – especially of the artist who has twice been a finalist for the Archibald Prize.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It’s full of stories about Ms Pinniger: all of those titillating anecdotes about drug use and wealthy patrons; the flair for publicity and the headlines. Ms Pinniger has taken exception to some of what is included in this book which, naturally, generates its own interest. What is fact, and what is fiction? Has Ms Pinniger been misrepresented? Or, perhaps, has she been misunderstood? It’s difficult to know: so much of Ms Pinniger’s life has been lived in public there is little left with which to shock or surprise. Interesting as the anecdotes are, especially to those of us who know the legend not the person, I wanted to know more about Gretel Pinniger.
If you are interested in the life and times of Madame Lash and an aspect of Sydney subculture from the 1970s, this book will answer some of your questions. If you want to know more about the motivations of Gretel Pinniger the woman behind Madame Lash, you may be disappointed.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Gretel Pinniger, known as Madame Lash to her clients, has shocked and thrilled Australian society for some 40 years. During her career, Ms Pinniger has made a name as an artist, a fashion designer and as a dominatrix. Ms Pinniger has also stood for a seat in the Australian Senate.
But who is Gretel Pinniger, and how much of Ms Pinniger is represented by Madame Lash? And which of her multiple legacies would she most wish to be remembered for? I read this book to try to get some sense of the woman behind the legend – especially of the artist who has twice been a finalist for the Archibald Prize.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It’s full of stories about Ms Pinniger: all of those titillating anecdotes about drug use and wealthy patrons; the flair for publicity and the headlines. Ms Pinniger has taken exception to some of what is included in this book which, naturally, generates its own interest. What is fact, and what is fiction? Has Ms Pinniger been misrepresented? Or, perhaps, has she been misunderstood? It’s difficult to know: so much of Ms Pinniger’s life has been lived in public there is little left with which to shock or surprise. Interesting as the anecdotes are, especially to those of us who know the legend not the person, I wanted to know more about Gretel Pinniger.
If you are interested in the life and times of Madame Lash and an aspect of Sydney subculture from the 1970s, this book will answer some of your questions. If you want to know more about the motivations of Gretel Pinniger the woman behind Madame Lash, you may be disappointed.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 10, 2015
Excellent book - light on the torrid stuff but it paints an engaging and well rounded picture of a very intersting, creative and slightly mad, individual.
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January 10, 2011I wrote this one
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews